Note: Allah Is Our Only True Friend Whom We Trust

 💐 In The Name Of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful

💌 Genuine friends, although they are very rare to find, all have some common qualities:
1] Reciprocity: They return your favors, they mutually like you just as you respect them, and the friendship produces pleasant vibes because it is not one-sided.
2] Sincerity or truthfulness: They try their best to stay honest with you. They avoid purposely telling lies and being deceitful. If ever they break a promise or they've offended you, they're quick to apologize or do something good to compensate for their wrongs.
3] Eagerness to see you improve: Befriending them for Allah's sake motivates you to become a better version of yourself. They generously share their Islamic knowledge with you, correct you when you're wrong, and give sincere advice when you ask for consultation. They can't envy you, and they don't view you as a threat or competition.
4] Willingness to listen and readiness to protect your secrets:
You can Inn-sha-Allah trust them as they're not into gossiping, betraying and making fun of others. They don't force you to unwillingly give them all the details when you confide in them, since they readily understand your need for privacy at times. Even if you haven't spoken to each other for several days, once you reach out to them, you resume talking and discussing issues comfortably as though you're best friends whose level of care doesn't reduce by distance.
5] Sincerely loving you for your heart, piety and faith/Imaan instead of your looks, money or status in society: They do not criticize you for your outward appearance, income and accomodation. What they are more interested in is your connection with Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala and how you can assist one another become more successful Muslims.
Allah the Most Merciful is the Only True Friend Whom we can always depend on since He has the above traits:
1) When we do Tawbah and return to Allah the Almighty, He Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala guides us more to what brings us closer to Him and Jannah Paradise.
2) Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala never breaks any promises as He stated in Surah Aal-'Imraan verse nine. When Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala guarantees to have a Du'a responded, He knows when to answer His servants' supplications at the most ideal time.
3) Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala expects us to be the best Muslim servants as we can be, always guiding us to do what is right and preventing us from what He knows is more harmful than beneficial.
4) Allah the All-Hearing is at all times ready to listen to our prayers, especially late at night when most people are asleep. Unlike humans who generally get annoyed if we continuously request them to do favors for us, Allah the Most Kind loves it when He hears our Du'as, emphasizing He Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala is the Only One Whom we can rely on to survive in both worlds.
5) Another quality that proves how Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala is the Only One deserving of our love and attention is His focus on how our hearts are instead of how we appear on the outside. Some people befriend you only to boost their influence in their community or to upgrade their reputation, while Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala judges us by our good actions accompanied by our niyyah/intention. Regardless of how many friends on earth a person has, if they haven't earned Allah's Love and Guidance, they didn't gain anything of significance.
Reminder to include the Muslim Ummah in your Du'as today Jumuah Friday before Maghreb prayer.
📖 Abu Dharr RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “Allah the Almighty says: 'Whoever comes with a good deed will have the reward of ten like it and even more. Whoever comes with an evil deed will be recompensed for one evil deed like it or he will be forgiven. Whoever draws close to Me by the length of a hand, I will draw close to him by the length of an arm. Whoever draws close to Me the by length of an arm, I will draw close to him by the length of a fathom. Whoever comes to Me walking, I will come to him running. Whoever meets Me with enough sins to fill the earth, not associating any idols with Me, I will meet him with as much forgiveness.”
Source: Sahih Muslim 2687
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Muslim
📖 ‘Amr ibn ‘Abasah RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “Allah the Almighty said: 'My love is a right upon those who befriend each other for My Sake. My love is a right upon those who defend each other for My Sake.”
Source: Al-Mu’jam Al-Ṣaghīr 1092
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Albani
📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “Allah the Almighty says: 'I am as My servant expects Me and I am with him as he remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I will remember him in Myself. If he mentions Me in a gathering, I will mention him in a greater gathering. When he draws near Me by the span of his hand, I draw near him by the length of a cubit. When he draws near Me by the length of a cubit, I draw near him by the length of a fathom. When he comes to Me walking, I come to him running.'”
Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 6970, Sahih Muslim 2675
Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (Authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim

Note: Gossip Is Done By The Insecure And Morally Incompetent

 💐 In The Name Of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful

💌 There is a difference between warning others about someone's wrongdoings which they carry out openly and describing their negative qualities unnecessarily just because of one bad experience you've had with them. It is irrational to criticize a person, organization or group of individuals when you lack sufficient information regarding their actual conditions and circumstances, which are entirely known by Allah the All-Knowing.
Some women appear to be uncomfortably shy and soft-spoken, complacent about their own sense of humility, yet when they're surrounded by their close friends or families, they readily open their mouths to childishly rant on how awful such-and-such a person or institute is. They wrongfully assume they're being helpful when in reality they are projecting their insecurities onto those they fail to understand, emphasizing how much they ignorantly don't know what or whom they're criticizing.
A gossiper doesn't gain anything significant except for the sins of the Muslims whom they backbite, ridicule or falsely accuse. An unresolved misunderstanding, a grudge that is formed from bigotry or prejudice, and an innocent mistake do not make it legitimate for any decent person to constantly whine about another Muslim, especially if they're not around to defend themselves and provide an explanation.
As much as possible, be mature enough to avoid gossiping if doing so:
1] ...would offend the subject being badly spoken about, and if they were present they would most likely clarify that your opinion of them is unfair, untrue or invalid.
2] ...is intended to make you feel better about your emotionally wounded self or your so-called warnings do not make a positive impact on other Muslims who eagerly seek the truth.
3] ...is meant to make your audience laugh because gossiping, fault-finding and forgetting your own flaws are possibly activities you enjoy to lessen feelings of moral incompetence.
Confident adults have no desire to indulge in childish backbiting and talking trash about specific people whom they conflict with. Unless you're seeking advice from a concerned parent, professional judge at a court or guidance counselor, it is wiser to keep your unpleasant thoughts to yourself than allow the rewards of your good deeds to be affected through sinful gossiping.
A striving Muslim ought to seek guidance and help from Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala by way of Du'as/supplications rather than crying about His servants to His other creation.
~•~
📖 Abdullah ibn Amr RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: They mentioned a man in front of the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam and they said, “He only eats if he is fed! He only moves if he is made to move!” The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “You have backbitten him.” They said, “We only said what is true about him.” The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “It is enough sin to mention bad things about your brother.”
In another narration, the Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “If what you said about him were not true, you would have slandered him.”
Source: Musnad ‘Abd Allāh ibn al-Mubārak 2
Grade: Hasan (Fair) according to Al-Mundhiri

📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Verily, among the worst of people is one with two faces, he who comes with one face to these and another to those."

Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 6757

Sahih Muslim 2526

Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (Authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim

Poem: Love Your Husband For Allah. Don't Give Up Easily.

 💐 In The Name Of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful

💌 To every wife who married her husband for Allah,
Who agreed to his proposal to be his zawja,
Who said "yes" from the start, "forever until Jannah",
Know that marriage ain't easy, expect times of fitna.
~•~
There'll be moments when you realize you're unlike,
Differing in many ways in your likes and dislikes.
Maybe you like jokes while he's more of a serious type,
Perhaps you're more righteous and his faith isn't yet high.
~•~
So what if he squeezes the toothpaste from the center,
So what if he comes home tired from work with some odor?
He can fix himself up, you can remind each other,
And remember you too don't always smell like flowers.
~•~
You married a human, not an ATM machine,
Not a robot nor fictional genie who grants dreams.
So forgive him, be strong enough to work as a team,
And together for Allah strive in boosting your Deen.
~•~
Don't scold him when he arrives late, investigating
And demanding where he went, as though you can't trust him.
Don't be too quick to criticize what seems apparent,
When behind tough choices are challenging conditions.
~•~
Comfort your other half, help when he needs assistance,
When he's struggling be grateful and show contentment.
Loyalty to your spouse is not only rewarding,
It can also lead you to Jannah for your patience.
~•~
Divorce shouldn't be the first response, but discussion,
Negotiation and loving consideration.
If loving your husband inspires your faith to strengthen,
As you love Allah more, your marriage is a blessing.
~•~
📖 Thawban RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “Whenever a woman asks her husband for a divorce without a strong reason, the fragrance of Paradise becomes forbidden for her.”
Source: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 2226
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Arna’ut
📖 Abdullah ibn Umar RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “The most hateful of lawful matters to Allah is divorce.”
Source: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 2172
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Suyuti
📖 Jabir RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “Verily, shaytan places his throne over the water and he sends out his troops (from the devils). The closest to him in rank are the greatest at causing tribulations. One of them says: 'I have done this and this.' shaytan says: 'You have done nothing.' Another one says: 'I did not leave this man alone until I separated him from his wife.' shaytan embraces him and he says: 'You have done well.'”
Source: Sahih Muslim 2813
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Muslim

Hadith: Don't Be Ashamed Of Not Being Rich So Long As You Gain Allah's Love

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📖 Abu Dharr RadhiAllahu ‘anhu narrated: Allah’s noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “O Abu Dharr, do you say an abundance of possessions is wealth?” I said “yes.” The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “Do you say a lack of possessions is poverty?” I said “yes”. The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam repeated this three times, then he SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “Wealth is in the heart and poverty is in the heart. Whoever is wealthy in his heart will not be harmed no matter what happens in the world. Whoever is impoverished in his heart will not be satisfied no matter how much he has in the world. Verily, he will only be harmed by the greed of his own soul.”

Source: Al-Mu’jam Al-Kabīr 1618

Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Albani

📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah’s noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “The poor Muslims will enter Paradise before the rich by half of a day, the length of which is five hundred years.”

Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 2354

Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Albani

📖 Muhammad ibn Labid RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah’s noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “Two things are hated by the son of Adam (by humans). He hates death, although it is better for the believer than tribulation (than trials), and he hates to have little wealth, although it means his reckoning will be easier.”

Source: Musnad Ahmed 23113

Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Albani